In conjunction with State v. Langford, the Supreme Court of South Carolina has today issued an additional order requiring each Circuit Solicitor to reconcile all pending General Sessions cases attributable to each county in their circuit with the records maintained by the County Clerks of Court.

Based on the order of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, attorneys (including those holding limited certificates) and foreign legal consults licensed in South Carolina must update and verify the information listed for them in the Attorney Information System (AIS) by December 10, 2012.

The Chief Justice has amended her September 13, 2012, Order concerning implementation of a contract system to handle indigent cases. Attorneys who have been disciplined based on misrepresentation or misconduct related to the submission of expense or reimbursement claims in any indigent case are ineligible to serve as contract awardees and receive contract appointments.

SCCID working in conjunction with the South Carolina Bar has established a framework for the implementation of a contract system to handle a significant number of indigent cases that were previously assigned to various attorneys in accordance with Rule 608, SCACR.

IT IS ORDERED that Rule 24, South Carolina Rules of Family Court, is temporarily suspended until further notice as it relates to the review and enforcement of Title IV-D child support payments paid through the clerk of court.

Attached is a copy of an Order of Chief Justice Jean H. Toal, dated June 29, 2012, the original of which is filed in our Office. The Order designates Chief Judges and Associate Chief Judges for Administrative Purposes of the Summary Courts. The Order becomes effective July 1, 2012.

On April 30th, the South Carolina Judicial Department brought up a new webserver. This move allowed SCJD to implement a new touch menu that works well on the iPad. The website is now set up to display a “touch” menu for visitors who are using an iPad and a “click” menu for those using a computer.

IT IS ORDERED that Form SCADR/108C, Consent to Selection of Uncertified Mediator, Form SCADR/108F, Consent to Selection of Uncertified Mediator, and Form SCADR/108PC, Proof of Mediation, are hereby approved for use in the courts of this State.

The Supreme Court has amended Rule 415 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules to eliminate the limitation that a retired or inactive attorney is not eligible for an limited certificate under that rule if the person has been in a retired or inactive status for more than seven years.

The Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization has furnished the attached list of lawyers who have been administratively suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Rule 419(b)(2), SCACR.

The Civil Action Coversheet, SCCA/234, bearing a revision date of 04/2012 is approved for use in the Circuit Courts of the State of South Carolina. Form SCCA/234 (04/2012) supersedes and replaces the coversheet bearing a revision date of 01/2011.

IT IS ORDERED that the Motion and Order for Case Assignment to the Business Court Pilot Program form (BC Form 101), bearing a revision date of 04/2012, is approved for use in the Circuit Courts of South Carolina and replaces the Motion and Order for Case Assignment to the Business Court Pilot Program form (BC Form 101), bearing a revision date of 12/2009.

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider the case of Anderson v. South Carolina State Election Commission in its original jurisdiction. As indicated by the attached petition (minus attachments), this case alleges that certain candidates are ineligible due to their failure to file a statement of economic interests with the State Ethics Commission.

Pursuant to Article V, § 4, of the South Carolina Constitution, Rule 1.15, RPC, Rule 407, South Carolina Appellate Court Rules, is amended as set forth in the attachment to this order. The amendments are effective immediately.

Chief Justice Jean H. Toal delivered her State of the Judiciary address to the General Assembly today, February 8, 2012, at 12:00 noon. Her speech was broadcast live on the Internet and has been archived for later viewing.

Published and unpublished opinions of the Supreme Court of South Carolina and the South Carolina Court of Appeals will now be filed and released to the parties, counsel and the public on the Judicial Department Website on Wednesdays. If no opinions are to be filed and released on that day, the Website will indicate that fact. In the event a Wednesday falls on a state holiday, the Clerk of the Supreme Court will establish an alternate day for the filing and release of opinions during that week. An opinion in an individual case may be filed and released at such other times as the issuing court may direct.

IT IS ORDERED that circuit solicitors within their respective jurisdictions statewide shall approve, in addition to DSS approval, appropriate batterer treatment programs which are most suitable for magistrates and municipal court judges to order a defendant to attend as a condition of a suspended sentence for a conviction of criminal domestic violence, first offense. Circuit solicitors, in cooperation with DSS, shall provide a list of these programs to the chief magistrates of the counties within their respective circuits as often as is necessary by the solicitors, chief magistrates, and DSS. Upon receipt, chief magistrates shall distribute the list to all magistrates and municipal judges within their respective counties.